Light amount adjusting apparatus and projector using the same

Abstract

At least a pair of light amount adjusting plates is allocated at peripheral side rim portions of a light path through which light from a light source is projected. These light amount adjusting plates are drivable between a narrow-down position in which they enter into the light path and a retreat position in which they retreat to outside of the light path. A restriction member such as a stopper member restricts a rotation of the light amount adjusting plate at the retreat position, and a holding unit holds the light amount adjusting plate to this restriction member. The restriction member blocks a predetermined angle or further rotation of the light amount adjusting plate, and the holding unit, such as a spring or a magnet, biases the light amount adjusting plate to the restriction member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT[0001]This invention relates to a light amount adjusting apparatus which adjusts a light amount on the occasion of projecting an image, which was formed by an image forming unit such as a liquid crystal panel, on a screen, by a projection lens, and a projector which used this.[0002]In general, an apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector, which projects alight image on a screen, is widely used as an apparatus which is connected to imaging devices such as a computer and a television receiver, and projects images which were outputted from these imaging devices, on a screen by a projection lens.[0003]There is such a case that someone feels a light image, which was projected by the suchlike projector, too bright, and dark, depending on a circumstance where it is used. Its cause is, for example, that a person feels light is too bright when an image is made suddenly bright in such a state that pupils of a human, who uses it at a dark...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This configuration enables accurate and easy light amount adjustment while maintaining a compact and miniaturized projector design, reducing the impact of backlash and misalignment errors, ensuring consistent light control.

Problems solved by technology

Its cause is, for example, that a person feels light is too bright when an image is made suddenly bright in such a state that pupils of a human, who uses it at a dark place, are opened, and, inversely, at a bright place, a human feels an image placed on a screen is too dark, and so on, and viewability due to brightness of a surrounding becomes a problem.

However, the liquid crystal panel has a special relation between a voltage and a transmission factor, and there were such problems that it is difficult to control a voltage in such a manner that red, blue and green change evenly on the occasion of changing brightness by changing a voltage, and in addition, a hue also changes on the occasion of adjustment of brightness.

Therefore, it brought about an undesirable result for miniaturization and space saving of an apparatus.

However, by adoption of the suchlike configuration, a next problem will newly occur.

In sum, as shown in FIG. 11, it is difficult to apply accurate light amount control to a pair of wing members which can be rotated (swung), in a projection light path, in a traveling direction of this light path, due to backlash of a opening and closing mechanism, and in particular, it becomes difficult to carry out light amount adjustment in such a state that the opening of the light path was widely opened. FIG. 11(a) is a state diagram in which the light path was fully opened, and FIG. 11(b) is a state diagram in which the light path was fully closed.

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